Owens Community College Commercials

Featured Students, Alumni and Community Partners

Melanie Campbell

Graduation Year: 2010 Campus Attended: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Commercial Art TechnologyHometown: Monroe, MIHigh School: Jefferson High SchoolCurrent Job: Graphic Designer, Owens Corning World Headquarters (through Aquent)Why did you choose Owens? It was affordable and not far from where I lived. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? I was weighing out options when I scheduled my counseling appointment. When I met with the counselor and discussed Commercial Art, I felt so comfortable that I knew it was the right choice. How did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens broke down the latest version of the Adobe Design Suite and taught me the programs inside and out. I feel like I really got a well-rounded design education that sent me into the workforce prepared and hirable. Three words to describe Owens Community College? A smart choice. Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? I was very pleased with my time at Owens. The facilities were clean and modern, and I got to work on brand new iMacs. The instructors were awesome, I really felt like they were invested in my success.

Hannah Critelli

Graduation Year: May 2013 Campus Attending: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Health Information Technology Hometown: Huron, OH High School: Huron High SchoolCurrent Job: HIM Coordinator II - Record Completion at ProMedica Toledo HospitalWhy did you choose Owens? Affordable and close to home How did Owens prepare you for your job? Not only were all of the classes in the HIM program very thorough, but I also had hands-on experience through two different Professional Practice Experiences. Three words to describe Owens Community College? Affordable, resourceful, engaging Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? I had the opportunity to be a part of the HIM Program Advisory Board, be the student representative for the HIM program, and now I am an Owens alumni sitting on the HIM Program Advisory Board. Owens provides many opportunities for students to engage in, which I believe can help to open doors and create many opportunities for students after college. The instructors are also wonderful!

Favour Davis

Graduation Year: May, 2017 Campus Attending: Findlay-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Nursing Hometown: Originally from West Africa High School: Fridley High School in Minnesota Current Job: Nursing aide at the Mennonite home in Bluffton What impacted your decision to attend Owens? The location impacted my decision Three words to describe Owens Community College? Dependable, considerate, efficient

Dawn Delvalle

Graduation Year: I graduated in May, 2015 with an Associate of Science. I am currently in my second semester of Nursing with an estimated graduation date in May, 2017.
Campus Attended/Attending: Toledo-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: Registered Nursing Hometown: I lived in Cleveland, OH most of my life and relocated to Toledo, OH in 2003 (due to spouse in the Military). High School: Valley Forge (Parma, OH). West Technical High School and East High (Cleveland, OH), however due to moving a lot and some issues, I didn't graduate until later in life (2005) from Penn Foster/Thompson High School. One should never give up on their dreams and goals no matter what age they are.Why did you choose Owens? I felt that I would get a better education and more one on one time with staff.What impacted your decision to attend Owens? I came to Owens and spoke with advisors and saw how they were willing to help me reach my goals, so I jumped on the opportunity. How did Owens prepare you for your job? Being in the nursing program has taught me skills to help use evidence based practice in the medical field, and given me the tools I need to believe in myself and gain confidence in my abilities. The hands-on opportunities challenge me to be proficient in what I do (getting vital signs, doing head-toe assessments, administer medication and IVs, etc.) by using up-to-date technology and equipment.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Committed, diverse, affordable.
Is there a special memory that you might have from your time here? My best memory would have to be graduating with my science degree. Graduation day was filled with many emotions for me, but, the feeling I got when walking down the long hallway (to the main room) and having it lined with Alumni and staff clapping and cheering the whole time, well, that gave me a sense of pride and accomplishment. I graduated Suma Cum Laude and it was the first time I had ever got to walk across the stage (and I am 43 years young). It's never too late to reach for the stars!

Brandon Harrold

Graduation Year/Future Plans: 2016. My future plans are to work hard and take any music composing, sound design jobs, freelance or permanent, mostly for game development.
Campus: Toledo-area CampusMajor: Music Business TechnologyHometown: Toledo, OHHigh School: Roy C. Start High SchoolCurrent Job: Team Member at Tim HortonsWhy did you choose Owens? I chose Owens because I was interested in the music field and audio development area and when I found out they had a major for it, I wanted to take it up immediately. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? The fact that music and wanting to record has always been my main passion and drive area, it's just something that comes naturally to me, and I look forward to the future with that knowledge.How did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens has given me the ability to do what I love and back it up with the knowledge to support my abilities. Three words to describe Owens Community College? Amazing, hands-on, beneficial.
My final statement for the audience about attending Owens, is that it doesn't matter what you want to do or how difficult it will be to get a job or find success in that field, going to Owens, helped me realize it will take work but this college will do everything in its power to get you there. Especially the teachers. My fondest memory is having taken the 'Making Music With Reason' course, and having Rex A. Maze as a professor and helping everyone with the hands on work, and how much he could see the passion I had for the art of music composing for film/games. To this day I will take what lessons he taught me and use them to my fullest ability. In the end, come to Owens, it will be worth every second of hard work.

Louisa Kerrigan

Graduation Year: Spring, 2016Campus Attending: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Culinary arts programHometown: Toledo, OH High School: HomeschooledCurrent Job: Rosie's Italian GrilleWhy did you choose Owens? Affordable prices and had a culinary programWhat impacted your decision to attend Owens? I wanted to pay for school without getting any loans, and Owens with their affordable programs really impacted my decision to go there.How did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens gave me real-life, practical experience to prepare me for my career. I was able to jump right into my job with a full understanding of all of my duties and responsibilities.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Caring, inspiring, motivating. Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? Owens allowed me to travel with a group of culinary students to Atlanta Georgia to a regional American Culinary Conference where we competed in a culinary knowledge bowl tournament. We ended up placing 2nd place and earning a gold metal. Additionally, I was able to network and meet a bunch of talented chefs. I would never have been able to do this if it were not for Owens.

Margaret Kerrigan

Graduation Year: Spring, 2016Campus Attending: Toledo-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: Culinary ArtsHometown: Toledo, OHHigh School: Toledo School for the Arts for first two years and homeschooled for the second two years.Current Job: Rosie's Italian GrilleWhy did you choose Owens? Owens has a good program, helpful advisors, and an affordable price. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? AffordabilityHow did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens gave me the skills and knowledge that I needed to be successful in the culinary industry.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Fun, learning environment, helpful
Is there anything you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? All of my teachers in the culinary program were so helpful. I learned so much in this program, and because it was affordable, I was able to graduate debt free.

Kelsey Keyser

Graduation Year: Graduate Owens in 2017 then transfer to BGSU for Bachelor's DegreeCampus Attending: Toledo-area CampusMajor: Early Childhood EducationHometown: Monclova, OHHigh School: Anthony Wayne High SchoolCurrent Job: Babysitting and a student worker in the Disability Service officeWhy did you choose Owens? I chose Owens because it was more affordable than starting at a four-year college.What impacted your decision to attend Owens? The cost and class sizes Three words to describe Owens: Convenient, encouraging, and friendly Is there anything you would like to share about your time at Owens? Any special memories of Owens? I started at Owens my senior year in high school by taking the Post Secondary Enrollment Option. This helped me get a head start on my college career and it saved me money. A special memory is being interviewed for the newspaper and then being a part of the new Owens commercial.

Jim Koedam

Graduation Year: 1986Campus Attended: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Mechanical Engineering (majors in Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing – CAD/CAM)Hometown: Perrysburg, OHHigh School: Perrysburg (PHS 1983)Current Job: Plant Manager, First Solar PerrysburgWhy did you choose Owens? I had great interest in drafting and Owens was one of the first colleges in the area to offer a major in CAD. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? Local, low cost, technically based (like engineering and manufacturing). How did Owens prepare you for your job? I learned real skills that I directly used to land a drafting/CAD job at Dana on Bennett Road in Toledo (Spicer Transmission Division) in July-1985 (before graduating).
Three words to describe Owens Community College? Opportunities, career, grow. Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? During my first year there, I actually worked part time in the CAD lab helping other students learn the CAD system. I earned a little money, got to help other students, but also helped to hone my skills. With the help of Owens and that CAD/CAM program, I landed a job at Dana Corporation which started my career and the foundation that holds me today.

Julia Kriston

Graduation Year: 2019Campus Attended: Toledo-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: BiologyHometown: PembervilleHigh School: Eastwood High SchoolWhy did you choose Owens? Easy to transfer credits.What impacted your decision to attend Owens? Low cost of tuition.How did Owens prepare you for your job? Placed me in real life scenarios through lab and clinicals.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Functional, opportunistic, helpful.Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? Owens has provided me the tools I needed to build a career in a field that I love.

Mike Martin

Graduation Year: 2020Campus Attended: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Culinary ArtsHometown: Toledo, OHHigh School: Toledo Technology Academy Why did you choose Owens? Close to home.In what branch of the military did you serve? How long? US Army, 10 yearsIs there anything else you would like our audience to know about your Owens experience? It's the perfect place to find out who you really are and what you really want to be.

Nick Orth

Graduation Year: 2015Campus Attended: Toledo-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: Medical ImagingHometown: Toledo, OHHigh School: Roy C. Start high schoolCurrent Job: MRI TechnicianWhy did you choose Owens? I chose Owens because of the price and location. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? The new MRI program, price, and location. How did Owens prepare you for your job? The clinical rotations were an important part of my education.

Steve Pierce

Graduation Year: 2017Campus Attended: Findlay-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: Business Administration Concentration, ASHometown: Findlay, OhioHigh School: Findlay High SchoolCurrent Job: Senior Solution Standards Consultant at Hyland Software, Inc.Why did you choose Owens? Local, web-based offerings, fairly pricedWhat impacted your decision to attend Owens? Work hours often exceed 50/wk and would not allow for many land-based courses. Additionally, the cost to obtain my education at Owens was significantly lower than other options locally/online.How did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens has introduced me to a number of concepts, strategies, and cultures that I did not consider previously. Furthermore, my courses maintained a theme of requiring critical thinking and higher thought processes to apply the materials to real world professional scenarios.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Passionate, diversified, edifying.Is there anything else you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? Owens is always the first recommendation that I provide when someone tells me that they are thinking about going to college. Whether they are traditional or non-traditional, I convey my positive experience with the resources, staff, quality, and price and advocate starting their studies at Owens.

Tatyana Reynolds

Graduation Year: 2016. After Owens I plan on attending a four-year college to finish my basketball career. Campus Attending: Toledo-area Campus Major: Sports Broadcasting Hometown: Toledo, OH High School: Toledo Rogers
Why did you choose Owens: I chose Owens because I wanted to play basketball. Three words to describe Owens Community College? Successful, talented and exciting. Is there anything you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? I'm a sophomore guard for the Owens women's basketball team I'm graduating this year and will be attending a four-year school. I love the professors at Owens, they will work around any schedule you have as long as you communicate with them.

Sheree Robinson

Graduation Year: 2006 Campus Attended: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Physical Therapist Assistant
Residence: Maumee, OH High School: Toledo Rogers Current Job: PTA/Site Leader Promedica, Total Rehab at Center for Health Services Why did you choose Owens? I was deciding between the PT program at another school and the PTA program at Owens. The pay is very good in PTA and the amount of schooling needed was perfect. I wanted to go on the fast track, so I chose Owens. What impacted your decision to attend Owens? It was the camaraderie of the PTA class that I loved. We were 22 students who would be going through and facing the same challenges and we did that together. We came early or stayed late after classes. We formed study groups and took turns meeting at each other's houses so that everyone did not have to always find babysitters for those of us who had children. How did Owens prepare you for your job? Honestly, the program is a "sink or swim" situation, but it is like that in the real world, so I get it now. The professors pushed that we understood the expectations of the program and if you couldn't work with all kinds of patients or think quickly on your feet, this program was not right for you. I am proud to be an Owens alumna because Owens cares about their students. The goal is not to just push people through any program. They hire professors to work closely with the students. I am very appreciative of the education I received at Owens. In three words, describe Owens Community College? Life-changing, positive, structured.

Brock Rode

Graduation Year: Graduating Spring, 2016Campus Attended: Toledo-area CampusMajor/Course of Study: Music Business TechnologyHometown: Bluffton, OHHigh School: Bluffton High SchoolCurrent Job: Barista at The Flying JoeWhy did you choose Owens? It was the only school in the area with a degree in Music Technology.What impacted your decision to attend Owens? The CFPA building is very up-to-date, and the professors are highly knowledgeable. How did Owens prepare you for your job? I gained exposure and experience in a lot of different avenues within the audio world.Three words to describe Owens Community College? In reference to the Music Business Technology degree: challenging, engaging, and relevant. Is there anything you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? I gained knowledge I never could have on my own, met friends I won't forget, and learned from some of the most fantastic and well-rounded professors that I have ever had the pleasure to take a class from.

Janine Rosenthal

Hometown: Chicago, IlDegrees earned: BBA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and MBA from Northwestern UniversityTitle: OwensAssociate ProfessorWhat courses do you teach? Accounting, ACC101 Financial Accounting, 102 Managerial Accounting, 150 Payroll, 140 Individual Taxation, 141 Corporate Taxation, 203 Cost Accounting, and 239 QuickbooksWhat previous real-world experience do you have? Worked in public accounting for two years for Coopers & Lybrand (1981-1983). Consulting from 1983 - 1988. Small Business owner from 1995-present. Teaching at Owens (2011-present).How many years have you been at Owens? SevenWhy do you like working at Owens? I love teaching at Owens because of the diverse student population. Students enter Owens directly from high school, transfer to Owens, or return to college as adult learners. These students are dedicated and hard working. They are inspirational in their fortitude to complete a program and prepare themselves for their next step, whether it be direct entry to the workforce or transfer to a 4-year institution. I enjoy working with a dedicated faculty who care about their students' success.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Welcoming, diverse, student-centered

Brent Thielen

Graduation Year: 2006Campus Attended: Toledo-area Campus Major/Course of Study: Associate of Applied Science Quality AssuranceHometown: I have lived everywhere it seems like; K-4 Northwood, 5-6 Millbury, 7-10 Bedford, 11-12 Millbury.High School: Penta County VocationalCurrent Job: Gear Quality Engineer at Dana Holding Corp.Why did you choose Owens? Seamless transfer from Penta County to Owens. I also had three classes completed at Owens upon graduation from Penta.What impacted your decision to attend Owens? Cost, easy transfer out of high school, and location.How did Owens prepare you for your job? Gave me all of the fundamental knowledge of APQP, material science and mechanical engineering skills that were required to succeed in a roller-coaster automotive market in engineering and design.Three words to describe Owens Community College? Personal real-life instructors.Is there anything you would like our audience to know about your time at Owens? Take advantage of speaking with your instructors and listen to their experiences. All too often we view our professors as our parents in the fact that we take advantage of them and do not necessarily learn from them. Our parents lead us in starting our lives, our professors lead us in starting our careers.

Jahmall Whittaker

Graduation Year: My graduation year is 2016 in the summer and my future plans are to continue my education maybe with BGSU or Saginaw Valley State University to obtain my bachelor's degree in Health Science. I am also on the path of becoming a certified EMT. Campus Attending: Toledo-area CampusMajor: AA GeneralHometown: Queens, NY. I went to high school in Jamaica where I attended Herbert Morrison Tech HS and Cornwall College. Current Job: I am currently a student worker in the Office of Advising. Why did you choose Owens? I choose Owens Community College because I was offered an athletic scholarship to play soccer, and also because I wanted to get a move on my future. How did Owens prepare you for your job? Owens helped prepare me for this job by helping me be better at time management and balance of my life with classes, soccer and work.
Three words that describe Owens Community College? Affordable, directive - meaning that Owens serves as a guidance of operations for me, and preparative - meaning that here at Owens it prepares you for the future and what you actually want to do. Is there anything you would like to share about your time at Owens? My time here at Owens has been and is fun, the people here are very easy to communicate with and even though the campus is small you still get to meet a lot of people, so basically my overall experience is great and I think I made a good choice coming here, and I don't regret it one bit.